Sony Alpha 7R Review

JPEG Tone Curves / dynamic range

Our Dynamic Range measurement system involves shooting a calibrated Stouffer Step Wedge (13 stops total range) which is backlit using a daylight balanced lamp (98 CRI). A single shot of this produces a gray scale wedge from the camera's clipped white point down to black (example below). Each step of the scale is equivalent to 1/3 EV (a third of a stop), we select one step as 'middle gray' (defined as 50% luminance) and measure outwards to define the dynamic range. Hence there are 'two sides' to our results, the amount of shadow range (below middle gray) and the amount of highlight range (above middle gray).

To most people highlight range is the first thing they think about when talking about dynamic range, that is the amount of highlight detail above middle gray the camera can capture before it clips to white. Shadow range is more complicated; in our test the line on the graph stops as soon as the luminance value drops below our defined 'black point' (about 2% luminance) or the signal-to-noise ratio drops below a predefined value (where shadow detail would be swamped by noise), whichever comes first.

Note: this page features our new interactive dynamic range comparison widget. The wedges below the graph are created by our measurement system from the values read from the step wedge, the red lines indicate approximate shadow and highlight range (the dotted line indicating middle gray).

Cameras Compared

The a7R performs nearly identically its little brother the a7, or the Nikon D800 and Canon EOS 5D Mark III full frame SLRs. With a gentle rolloff to the clipping point, we'd expect the a7 to offer a generally pleasing rendition of highlight detail.

DR Modes

DRO (Dynamic Range Optimization) is an adaptive algorithm that brightens the dark regions of images to give a more balanced result while retaining local contrast. Our test chart doesn't tell the whole story, as in the real world the camera breaks an image down into smaller areas, adjusting the tone curve for each. With that out of the way, you can see above that DRO pulls up the shadows, without sacrificing highlight tone.

DRO Real World Example

Auto

Off

Lvl 1

Lvl 2

Lvl 3

Lvl 4

Lvl 5

While not the most exciting example, above you can see what each DRO setting does in a high contrast situation. The Auto setting is close to level 2, which is a fairly conservative choice from our experiences.

In our own experiences with the a7R we almost never changed the DRO setting from Auto, as it usually does the job. If you run into a situation with more contrast than DRO allows you to cope with, then consider using the well-designed HDR feature.

ISO Expansion

The a7R allows you to lower the base ISO to 50, for those who want to utilize wider apertures or slower shutters speeds in bright light. As is usually the case, the trade-off for this is an abrupt transition in the highlights to clipped white about a stop sooner than ISO 100.

Comments

It’s a great camera but it’s a pity that the quality of Sony products is so poor. After less than 6000 clicks my 35 mm Zeiss 2.8 stopped functioning, Repair costs were an amazing € 589,60. No more Sony products for me.

The EVF on my lightly used Sony A7R died early during a trip to Rome in December, making it useless for the duration. I just got it back from the Authorized Sony Repair Service and paid $543.

The minimum charge is $376. The added cost was parts.

The camera was not dropped or damaged, ever. It just quit at a bad time. I bought this was a great sensor and light weight. I prefer my Canon FF, more lenses, etc., but on travel weight matters (I’m old and arthritic).

I used my NEX 7 afterward.. I missed not having the full frame 36 mp for some things.

EVF problems with the 7 Series appear to be fairly common. The classic is that it dies in the EVF mode, rather than the back live view. You can’t get back to the rear screen view. There are some reset approaches that work for a few temporarily.

Sony should have replaced this even out of warranty. It’s a known issue. Otherwise, nice camera.

My Sony a7r died on me... It was in my camera bag, and I pulled it out to use it. It would not power up... Pulled out the battery and put it back in and... no power... I put in an other fully charged battery and no power... On top of that, the fully charged battery went dead... I tried this with a few batteries and did it to all of them... The batteries charged back up but the a7r is dead... Sent it to the Sony authorized (only) service center 2 weeks ago and they called me today and told me my bill is $675 US due to a high part cost. The circuit board or something was damaged... I love Sony cameras, but the reliability is a big issue for me. I had some problems when I was in Europe, and I had to totally rely on my back up camera at the time. Really disappointed and will keep my Canon system!!!

Well, I love the concept of the mini-full-frame. But one of the main reasons I migrated to the OM series is because the lenses are substantially lighter and more compact than those I used to hump around on my Nikon full-frame. (Not to mention less expensive) I have a bag full of cool little primes that all together weigh less than my old 70-200 F2.8. I imagine something like a 70-200 F2.8 hanging off the end of this little guy and I'm thinking nose heavy. But I can also easily see this camera as a great solution for high-res wide to mid angle primes. So like many things, if you can afford to have dedicated cameras for specific tasks then this is certainly enticing (after a firmware update or two). But I'll stick with Olympus for my purposes. I haven't cared about pixels since I shot my first wedding with my old D300. I'm more interested in high ISO performance where pixel density seems to be the primary tradeoff.

This camera is perfect if you keep the focal range 50 and below. Otherwise you are defeating the purpose of having such a compact body. That said, It is an extraordinary camera in my opinion. I have the a7 and love it. I will keep my Canon 6d for focal ranges higher than 50 such as my 70-200 2.8 because # 1 it's ridiculous to put that huge lens on it, and by the way, # 2, the metabones adapter is useless as the focus takes forever with it... The view finder actually was really good. I thought I would miss the mirror, but I almost forgot it wasn't there. It's doesn't weigh much, yet feels very sturdy in the hand as well. Excellent picture quality when shooting in raw and then doing your own post with it. Better than my 6d I'd have to say.

I must be a bit thick - what is a focal range, please? I need to change my canon 450D, and it looks like the a7r will be the best choice - I am surprised by the item of the plane lens which brings all colors to a focus without needing a conventional lens, and wondered if to wait until this is implemented - but things change so quickly that it seems daft to wait - any thoughts on this?

From the Sony website: "Compatible with Sony E-mount and full frame lenses" so the answer seems to be yes. I just ordered the body and I have the NEX lenses from my NEX5T. I will confirm once I receive the body.

Big question for me. My needs are to have LCD out to horizontal and resting Hoodman 3X loupe on it. I want hands free to operate lenses(manual legacy nikkors) right hand changing functions of camera (primarily in manual mode). Is articulating mechanism strong enough to hold up Hoodman? I had read somewhere mechanism on D750 much stronger.Thanks!

Could you tell me what do I need to see the raw images of the alpha r7 in Bridge and Photoshop, I already download the Phaseone and I can see the photos there but not in Photoshop, thank you in advance

Though I can appreciate the objective of this review is to include as many factors as possible, most of the factors are entirely subjective and really off base for what I consider to be valid for any camera. My criteria are simple: image quality, ability to manually control all aspects of the camera as and when I want, and flexibility to use legacy lenses. The A7R meets this 100%.

The A7R has the world's best sensor. period. To take advantage of this, you will need the world's best lenses. period. Combined with a good photographer, you will get the world's best images. period.

It's an extremely helpful review and has powerful tools to compare performance. Take a look at the tool for comparing images in different lighting, above. That's the sort of information many of us need before deciding on which cameras to consider. Then, before deciding, it's best to try the cameras out in the real world. This review has certainly really helped me make my own decision.

Can the a7r allow full manual exposure (speed/iso/aperture/wb) creative adjustment control DURING video capture (not just set at beginning of video)? I can't seem to find it listed specifically on DPR's comparison specs database, or in it's review, where am I to find it (url, page location/section). Search function isn't friendly if exact wording is needed to isolate it.thx

what other models by other mfrs have full manual creative adjustment control DURING VIDEO capture listed?

yes, you can make adjustments during video.example: if you use a manual lens, you can change f-stop during video and the live view on lcd will show you the effect. normally, I set the other parameters before shooting, so I have greater control over blur, noise, etc. always I let the camera set the wb to auto.

1) ISO can be changed during video capture running, and its sensitivity fx be seen live during capture

2) shutter speed can be changed during video capture, and its exposure fx can be seen live during capture

3m) lens aperture can be changed during video capture, and both its exposure fx and dof fx can be see live during capture (M ISO chosen, and changed during capture)+3a) obviously,lens aperture can be changed during video capture, and dof fx can be see live during capture (Auto ISO chosen, and varies with light conditions)

4) lastly:EV compensation can be chosen, and changed during video capture, and see compensation fx change live (not sure if this is done via auto shutter speed or auto ISO or a combination of both)

I know on EOS dSLR video, all 4 above are possible

not sure about the rest, as most Manual, seem to be selectable only at start of video, but not changeable during capture.

I disagree with the statement that : '' At ISO 3200 you'll see that the a7R is neck-and-neck with the much larger Canon 5D III ''. Unfortunately sony produces significantly more noise in raw mode. Otherwise a nice camera

As a new purchaser of this camera I want to thank the reviewer for a careful, thorough and well balanced review. Especially I appreciated the organized discussion of the menus. I printed your discussion as a little booklet to carry in my camera bag. As natural successor to the Nex 7 the camera adds much needed low light capability when used with fast lenses. I have the Zeiss FE mount 55mm 1.8 and Zeiss Emount 24 mm 1.8. The images are also much better at higher ISO's. The preset ISO top auto ISO limit is 6400, but it's better to use it at 3200. Top auto ISO on the Nex 7 is 1600 and for good reason. With the Zeiss 55 mm and care in holding this camera steady, the images can be stunningly clear and great bokeh. Except in low light, the Nex 7 is capable of nearly the same quality using the new Zeiss 16-70mm f4. But the colors and dark and light are just a little better handled in higher contrast outdoor shooting with the 7r.

Has anyone, reviewer or photographer with A7R, test IQ from various prime lenses from Nikon, Canon, Leica, Voightlander, of course with apprpriate adapter? It would be a fabulously interesting comparison. Especially curious how truly sharp the older preAF lenses.Thanks, gary

to see photos from legacy lenses, go to Flickr (lots there). in general, the A7R sensor is extremely sensitive to lens quality and will show faults very easily. as a rule, I have found only the Zeiss Planar design comes up to the level of the sensor without postpro or apps. Distagon is another excellent lens. Leica has colour shift on the A7R and requires postpro or the add-on lens app. I have seen excellent results with Minolta 50. All others are hit or miss, so you need to experiment.

I am a Nikon FX and DX user. I bought a Oly EM-1 as my back can no longer take rigorous hiking carrying 10KG of Nikon gear. So, now my pack is down to 3KG. But here is the killer: 1. the DR is not really + there as is a gritty feel to the images even using ETTR. 2. this is the biggie: the magic of a full frame image isn't there. I would back the Olympus 75 1.8 against ANY lens for sharpness and contrast. Particularly so in the case of my Nikkor 135 F2 DC. But guess what? The Nikkor kills it for Bokeh and I mean KILLS.I and many others don't NEED 5/6/8/12 FPS -I have other tools that do that. FPS is simply a "my dick is bigger!" argument. Go and get a D4S then - just don't expect the D4S to make an A1 image. I don't take "test shots" at high frame rates to boost my manhood.

The A7 is a real camera for people who take photographs, and yes, my EM-1 is going. The Nikon 135 F2 DC stays on the Nikon and I am going to buy an A7R because it works for the type of photography I do.

Another "concept camera" ?Too expansive for "amateurs".Not performing enough for professionals. They will get a DSLR over it.May be ppl with too much money to spend ?Sure it is a good camera...if you just take account of sensor...

No, you have to be able to get the shot right first time. On this camera you cannot as they have a dreadfully long lag between the half-press and exposure. The A7 has not, so why? what is the point? Are they refusing to compete with the D800E (which has a Sony sensor too) on equal ground? Why? So much Sony do is brilliant and so much makes no sense!!

you gotta be kidding right? 2.5 fps - on the FAST model. 1.5 fps on the high MP model. I get it - these were not built for speed - but still - this is 2014! I would expect no less than 5 fps w/autofocus on the A7r and at least 8 fps on the A7 w/ autofocus. For me - this camera is a non-started just based on this. I can't justify $2k for a camera that is by far slower than my D7000. I have been looking at going FF - and was considering this camera - but no way - not at those speeds. D610 will have to do.

Eastwestphoto...if one has polarizer constantly on lens to improve focusing, they would constantly polarize each and every image. They would constantly have to turn front glass on polarizer depending on changing value of light. Polarizers only effective at certain angles to sun or light source.you are adding many, many restrictions in your shooting to perhaps improve focus speed.there are a great number of subjects that should not be polarized, and you will lose 2.5 stops of light.

DT 18~70mm lens, Kit lenses are significantly improved on Sony Contrast focusing AF system by the SIMPLE addition of a 49mm Polarizer filter. Focus is faster and more accurate. At least on the NEX system DSLM cameras and the New Alpha A7 series! If you think about it it makes sense, polarized light is MUCH easier for the AF Contrast system to read! 18mm on APS-C chip sized = 27mm. I tested the DT 18~70mm kit lens on my LA-EA4 adapter and at full frame it covered a 24x36mm digital chip on the A7r from 70-21, then vignetted. I didn't expect it to work that well. The image was sharp, contrasty and Highly usable! This is a trade secret,I am revealing. I seriously doubt that Sony would want this info revealed? Remember a A200 series and A300 series Sony cameras are Sony A mount and have mirrors, therefore the back focal length of the lens is Longer by far than Nex APS-C lenses , which are for DSLM cameras. So on the LA-EA4 adapter, the lens works well! Regards, Don@Eastwestphoto

I'm not sure what you're on about. I just tested my old KM 18-70 DT and it only covered 28mm FF with no vignetting. Anything less and there was too much vignetting and the corners were very soft. The standard FE kit 28-75 performs better than this lens.

I bought this just 4 days after it was released after lots of thought and research. I was originally thinking of upgrading from my Rebel XTI to a Canon 6D, I very much felt I was ready for a full frame model of camera, crop sensor was making my Nifty Fifty (50mm f/1.8) very difficult to shoot in smaller places which I found to be a common situation I landed in (abandoned buildings).A friend highly suggested this model and I am absolutely loving it! I didn't purchase a sony lens to go along, instead opting to purchase an adapter and use Canon FD lenses and managed to get my hands on a fabulous 50mm f/1.4 for FIFTY BUCKS! I do highly recommend this to all who are also considering the "Big Switch" or just looking for a more compact way to carry their camera with them. But I also suggest the adaptor and use of FD glass! Super cheap!

After all the waiting and the bustling excitement how is it possible that Sony released the Zeiss 24-70 Vario-Tessar for the a7r/a7 when there are so many issues with it? Didn’t the people at Sony ever take a shot or test the lens? Bad distortions; very sharp at the center but the image degrading into real softness and blur at the corners make this lens unusable. After many tries the softness remains even stopped down. Zoom lenses are useful for their versatility on the field (some of them are outstanding) especially at this zoom range. What to do? It really is disappointing, and a big tarnish on the Sony name and particularly the Zeiss. A marvelous camera, yet few primes that go with it. Certainly not enough. And unfortunately, there are no signs of an apology or a worthy lens replacement.

Some serious blogs regarding shutter shake on A7R. My intent is to find light system, certainly not dependent upon sandbags and added weight to pack. I will be on strong tripod, shooting mostly in multiple to 1/15th second, rarely hand held. I could solve shake issue with A7, but need better IQ of A7R.

Have any of you face this issue, and what was your results?

To add, will be shooting mostly manual lenses 24-150mm. I believe this shake is diminished with this range of lenses, but the word diminish scares me. What can i expect? Would certainly not want to buy entire system only to realize images not ideal for sensor and needing to return...if i am permited.

People are over reacting with this shutter shake issue. To get the most out of the A7R you need :

1. The best of the best glass available. 2. EXTREMELY accurate focus3. No camera movement whatsoever (in your case a strong tripod should do)

and THEN you can factor in image degradation due to shutter shake which is close to none (I have yet to see it even tho I shoot at those "dreaded" shutter speeds).

The fact is even if you get to actually see some shutter shake it'll only show up if you do an insane crop (might as well consider you missed the shot at that point) or print extremely large and examine it with a loupe!

I don't know what kind of work you are looking to do but to even consider shutter shake on an A7R as an issue you have to be part of that 1% elite photographers out there for whom every freakin detail matter because they're paid thousands upon thousands for their work.

Continued :That kind of photographer prolly have access to way better cameras and doesn't bother for the 2000$ price tag on the A7R body anyway.

What I'm trying to get to here is outside of pixel peeping, there is no way shutter shake on the A7R will be and issue. Even if it does show up, you can always manipulate your ISO just slightly (A7R goes from iso 50--320+ in small increments) and get out of the supposed "danger zone". Yet again, outside of pixel peeping, with that quality of sensor there is NO WAY you will see a difference between ISO 100 and 200, yet you doubled your shutter speed.

In conclusion the A7R has numerous flaws and quirks and while shutter shake might be real, its not what you should consider as an issue. The lack of available lens is something to consider. Lackluster focus speed and accuracy (in low light) is another. The fact that you need flawless technique to get the best out of it is a factor to consider too.

Just go out there and take a picture with an A7R and the FE 55mm f1.8 Zeiss and you'll see how awesome that camera really is. (try f5.6, it is just insanely sharp!). Shutter shake or not, you'll like what you see.

In many ways i am the type of photographer you speak of. My main work is shot 4x5, selling in my gallery in average 30"x40" for around $1,000. The a7r is to be light backup camera for scenarios film cannot capture. Also for macro, high def video. The a7r seems to fit ideally. Planned on adapting my old nikkor glass.

Lots on the line when i purchase gear. Yes, i sell my work, but often struggle to keep lights on, must make best researched decision, not much room to just try a system on.

I did not write all those shuttered shake articles, but certainly did listen. The sonys are only full frame mirrorless though.

Has DPR ever taken on this shake issue? I don't think Imaging Resourse has, of yet. I can easily understand how most photographers would not see it as an issue, but the many websites and blogs regarding shake requires in depth study if this camera can be considered a ideal pro camera. Believe me, i have been looking at sony a7r since it arrived, sooo many features, functions, even buttons, i like. I just want to read an unbiased review about shake under specific slow shutter /adapted lens issue.

Please, just asking for constructive help, not destructive just because i make a living with my camera. If i could afford, i would wait for pentax 645Z. That camera just might replace my 4x5.

Jim Kasson has a lengthy series of blog articles on the A7r from late 2013 and early 2014. He addressed the "shutter shake" issue at length, and wasn't able to resolve all that well, IIRC.http://blog.kasson.com

Using an OSS lens, the shake is not an issue. Shake becomes an issue when 2 factors are combined: the photographer and legacy lens. Shake has always been a problem for SLR days, with the flipping mirrors: we simply learned to compensate. If you can't adjust yourself, you may experience shake. For the A7R specifically, the bulkier the lens and the longer the length, the more apparent the shake may become. This is why I do not use SLR lenses longer than say 75mm, but do use RF lenses up to 135mm, hand held without much problem from shake. After 135, SLR lenses must be used, and these are heavy and bulky, and thus must be tripod mounted on the lens. A monopod helps at all times, and I use this for 90mm RF lenses to obtain perfectly sharp photos when the job is critical. True, the shake is the one aspect of the camera I would like to see resolved entirely; but as it is now, it is mostly overblown by people who cannot adjust to the camera.

Great camera, but I wish Sony would hold off releasing bodies without comprehensive lenses that perform. The 50mm is good (although any manufacturer who cannot make a good fast 50 should make lenses full stop!) The zoom is OK ish... The Zeiss 35 is a good lens, but is not as good as the rx1 in comparison? How same lens same sensors etc...

If they had held fire for 6 months and had a wide to tell set of Zeiss nex lenses this would have been a major contender to people who need system cameras, not sensor platforms.

I know you can adapt lenses.. But full AF matched glass designed with the correct sensor requirements are what is needed here.

As Fuji proved with the xpro. Waiting and having a full system from the start has cemented success. Sony have done this over and over again now. Yes we can get the Minolta/Sony AF adapter, but it's a bodge.

Camera makers take note... There is a large population of users who would and will switch systems if you make systems.

While theoretically a great idea, I'd guess Sony's decision has more to do with commercial reality than anything else. Fuji is a case in point, despite its success the last time its imaging division reported it was loss making, we'll have to wait till mid 2014 to see if this is still true..

As for Sony, their strategy isn't perfect, but given this reality it is kind of understandable. 35 and 50 are two very popular focal lengths, for tele, there are already several high quality e-mount lenses available and with the crop-ability of the A7R's 36Mp, I'd argue that you really don't need FF glass (and it's bulk) for tele shooting.

For ultra-wide situations then MF is also OK. I own the Samyang 14mm for example, never once have I thought it could do with AF.

For me the best thing about the A7R is that it can be small if you want it to be (think Zeiss 35 or e-mount) and if you want class leading FF quality then it can also do that with aplomb, albeit with the inevitable size pay off.

I don't have a problem with Sony's approach. Instead of waiting for months, I had the camera in December with an excellent 35 f/2.8 lens.I bought a Metabones Smart Adapter so I could use my Canon lenses as well. So immediately I had the Zeiss 35, a 100 f/2.8 macro, a 70-200 f/4 zoom, a 400 f/5.6 and several more lenses.I bought the superb Zeiss 55 f/1.8 when it was released.Now I will take my time selecting additional native lenses.

GPS or lack of is stopping me on this. I've done the software add data thing in post and it's hit and miss for what I do.Having gps position and height is a good plus for me and much better when added at the taking stage.Still a possibility for my Canon L lenses when pixel count matters.

I've already done this and have the Sigma 35 f/1.4 DG art with the LA-EA4 adapter. OK its not as petite as the Zeiss, but the picture quality is truly outstanding and AF is snappy. Will find it difficult not to buy the 50mm when its available.

I have been right on the edge of purchasing this camera, but after reading this review in detail, maybe not. I went back to the review of the Nex 7 which was nearly 3 years ago and the reason I purchased that camera. I also purchased good E-mount glass for it, and I have not been disappointed. But this review is not like that. That review was full of enthusiasm for the Nex 7, even concluding: "in terms of out-and-out image quality it's probably the best APS-C camera yet, regardless of size." A far cry from this review, full of cautions and quibbles. The only reason to purchase ff instead of APS-c is better low light performance. But with high quality much less expensive fast glass, and a number of problems in jpegs etc., it seems like the reviewers are telling me the real life results with my old Nex 7 is going to equal or beat the performance of this camera.

With Metabones for nikon f mount to e mount, i had read in blogs, there is no apeture control. I an only assume this incorrect, my older nikkor manual lenses certainly have apeture dial/apeture control. Anything i am not understanding? This would be on a7r.

Holy mackerel, my Leica APO-Macro-Elmarit-R 1:2.8 / 100mm has risen from the grave. I use the Novoflex NEX/LER adapter to attach this big bad lens to my A7r, and by golly the pictures are GORGEOUS.

One thing though, the A7r with this heavy lens is a bit unwieldy, a tripod is a good idea.

I intent to resurrect all my old Leicaflex R lens (28mm, 50mm, 135mm) with this A7r. Thank you Sony, the Leica M240 half baked "R solution" is no where close to the pleasure of using all my old Leica R glass with the A7r.

Hmmm... if anyone wants to get rid of their A7r because of this issue. Please, think of me. I don't know what I'll do with it (can it still take pictures? No matter). Rest assured, it will be in a caring, loving home. :)

Will LCD at horizontal hold up hoodman hood 3x loupe? Just called camera shop, they said LCD mechanism weak, lightweight, not strong enough to hold loupe. Can it be tightened, or will it only get weaker and weaker with continual use?

I felt felt you Dame way but find I like being able able plus it into any USB charger everywhere I go. I even charge it in my car. I bought a charger and extra battery on ebay for $19.00 so I found it to be a good set up.

I already have the charger, actually 2, but it's the same damned battery as the NEX-7 which is otherwise a great camera. People bitch about the Canon 5D2 and 3. They're good for roughly twice th frames. But most cameras or lenses have some shortcoming of little consequence. One thing that mattered to me was size and weight. The NEX-7 served well as a travel sub for the 5D3 and the 7R should make a good sub and more.

Here is a trade secret; On the NEW Sony A7r 36Meg full frame DSLM, this teleconverter Panasonic Lumix DMV-LT52 1.4x can be mounted to the Kit lens 28~70 FE series SEL2870 and now at 1.4x its 28~100mm. OSS still works, Fine focus at 7x works, the image quality is excellent. Mounting is via step up ring 52>55mm, weight increases too 24ozs for the lens package and the lens is 80mm wide. Thats a big hunk of beautiful glass, does the F:stop increase? Hum, piece of cake! Don@eastwestphoto

I am not a Pro, but I have been taking p'graphs passionately for more than 30 years and my collection of cameras & lenses is quite extensive; predominantly Canon, Nikon & Leica, in a chronological order.I found the marriage of Alpha 7R & 24-70mm f/4 w/h Leica Lenses an Unbeatable combination with Unlimited possibilities, at a very reasonable price; assuming one has the M Lenses.....!!!!Imagine Alpha 7R Full Frame 37MP Focusing through a Noctilux 50mm f/0.95..... BeautiFul.....!!!

One point everyone seems to miss, is that Sony was smart enough to have Zeiss make the lenses for the camera. Next to Leica, Zeiss makes the best glass in my opinion. I agree the sony name in cameras is not near as great as many others, but I do think they did build a unique camera with the Zeisss lens.

Sony Zeiss lenses are not made by Zeiss, but by Sony, just as the Panasonic Leica lenses are made by Panasonic, not by Leica. I suppose that Zeiss has approved the designs and/or manufacturing methods, but they aren't involved in the makiing of the lenses.

The Sony a7R has some nice features for my purposes. I was looking for a lighter small camera than my Leica, but I wanted to be able to take decent photographs. I feel the Sony has that ability except sony needs to develope more lenses in the near future. The three lenses they currenty have are not fast enough, and I would like to see some wider angle lenses. I have used some of my Leica lenses on the Sony, and they do work well, but it sort of defeats the purpose, because it adds weight and size, and you can no longer use the auto focusing.

The reason I am writing is that I hope I can get someother owners to put pressure on Sony to develope those lenses.

I really tried to buy one. Both the Sony Store at Dubai Mall and the airport tried to sell me a body. However, neither had ANY lenses in stock to fit the body. This for me gave off warning signals. Not a single lens that fit! Shame, but I'll stick to Canon for now at least.

I think the kill of fullframe ILC still the lens. When the big lens, say 70-300mm, attached to this camera, the benefit of mirrorless already gone. I hope in the future they make a jump to create small lenses like used on automatic focus glasses using liquid (http://www.superfocus.com/) electronically.

Yoyokal, the major advantage of a full frame mirrorless camera is amazing image quality in a small package, that is well suited to the wide angle to short telephoto range. This covers nearly all my photographic needs. My Canon telephotos (up to 800mm) don't get a lot of use. I have a Metabones Adapter so I can fit these lenses on my a7, but I prefer my 7D DSLR for its better handling, tracking etc..Certainly I wouldn't travel with any serious telephoto lenses unless I go on safari!The Zeiss 35 f/2.8 and 55 f/1.8 make a good pair of travel lenses or you could just take a 24-70 f/4 zoom.I think that mirrorless cameras in general (not just full frame) are not well suited to the use of medium to long telephoto lenses. You can pick up a relatively cheap DSLR to handle these lenses so much better. If you are a serious bird or aircraft photographer, you would naturally chose a DSLR. You could do it using a mirrorless camera but why would you?

I think Yoyokal already showed that the advantage of such a great compact body with excellent image quality (such as this Sony) is made moot by the fact that the good lenses are big and heavy, making the camera less like a small mirrorless and more like a DSLR in size and weight.

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After a popular Facebook teaser and some studio portrait samples, Godox has finally officially released the Godox A1 smartphone flash and flash trigger. Cheap, versatile and innovative, color us intrigued.

Canon’s EOS 5D Mk IV has won the European Imaging and Sound Association’s Professional DSLR of the Year award, making this the third year in a row that the brand has beaten Nikon to the top spot in the professional camera category.

Edward Weston was one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century, and in this episode of Advancing Your Photography we learn the extreme technique he used to capture one of his most famous still life photos.

Venus Optics has announced the price and delivery date of the second lens to join its Zero-D line up: the 15mm F2 for Sony’s E mount. A lens they've dubbed, "the world's fastest 15mm rectilinear lens for full-frame."

The Canon EF 35mm F2 IS USM is an understated jewel of a lens, and one that we've enjoyed on a variety of cameras since its release almost five years ago. Its relatively small size and image stabilization make it a versatile tool for a variety of photography - check out our sample gallery.

You don't need a fancy studio or tons of gear to capture the kind of classic product photography you see in magazines. In this video, Dustin Dolby shows you how to do it with just a couple of speedlights and some know-how.

The Minolta MC Rokkor-X 40-80mm F2.8 is unlike any zoom lens you've probably ever seen. Instead of a helicoid, it uses a gearbox, and because of this it's still one of the sharpest zoom lenses out there.

If you're looking to switch to Sony, the company's new limited-time "α trade up" promotion can snag you up to $500 + trade-in value towards a brand new a9, a7 II, a7R II, or a7S II when you hand over your DSLR or mirrorless camera.

The Google Camera app exclusive to the company's own Pixel phone has been unofficially ported to other Android devices. If you're willing to take the risk of installing, you can now use features like HDR+ on the Galaxy S8, LG G6, OnePlus 5, and more.